Electrical switch



April 28, 1925. 1,535,778

J. A. JOHNSON ET AL EL ECTHI CAL SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 18,1919 Patented Apr. 28, 1925.

i UNITED STATES PATENT O JOSEPH ALLEN JOHN-son, on NIAGARA FALLS, NEwYonAnn HARRY on NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO, CANADA.

FFICE'.

e M. KING;

I ELECTRICAL swr'ron.

Application filed July 18, 1919. Serial No. 311,773.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be 1t known that we, Josnrrr. ALLEN JOHNSON and HARRY M. KING, bothcitizens of the United States, and residents of Niagl 1 electricalswitches and more particularly to that, type known as disconnecting,switches for high potential alternating current circuit or circuits oflarge current capacity in which the switch is adaptedto be opened andclosed manually by means of a separate insulated hook handle. Suchswitches are particularlyuseful in stations employing alternatingcurrent at high potential for isolating oil switches and other apparatusand atlpresent the type of switch known as the knife switch is commonlyused, which consists of one or more blades of hard copper ringed at oneend and slipping over or between stationary blades or awsat the otherend, this type ofswitch being similarto switches of small size whichhave been commonlynsed in circuits of low voltage and small capacity.

In high potential alternating current-systems or circuits of largecurrent capacity of relatively low voltage, this knife switch is open tothe objection that in large sizes they are difiicultto operate,diflicult tofit, adjust and maintaimfor become worn out or lose capacitywith age. They are also costl t manufacture on account of thegreat skilland care required'in fitting and adjusting and in stations of largecapacity, it is neces sary to 'equip them with special latches toprevent them from bein thrown open by heavy short circuit currents. A

According to our invention we provide a switch in which the connectingswitch member is of the brush type, preferablymade ofa series of springcopper layers or laminations in the form of an arch suitably clampedtogether and supported, and arrangedto be forced againstthe contactterminals and maintained in electrical. contactthereagainstunderpressure. We are aware that the brush tvpeo'f switchhasbeen used for oil switches and circuit breakers operatedautomatically, but so far as we are aware we are the first-to pointoutthe advantage of using such brush type switch member indisconnecting. switches where high potential or large alternatingcurrents are usedand the switch is "adapted to be opened and closedmanually by means of an insulated handle. e findthat by using a brushtypeswitchmeans in a disconnecting switch adapted to be so operated, theoperation is. not only eas but the necessary pressure'to make propercontact may be applied 1 simply by means assuring certainty of con tact.Ingsuch an arrangement the fitting and adjustment is easya'nd nogrinding in is necessary as is the case with knife contact switches. Asthe wiping action beplace the contacts-may be easily dressed andreadjusted without loss of capacity. Furthermore, in the larger type ofswitches the cost of product-ionis materially less-and the heavycurrentscarried do not need to pass through the hinge orsupporting element ofthe moving switch member, so that the hinge or pivot need not be of atight fit and the switch may beyeasily constructed and so that themoving parts can beremoved With out killing thecircuit, therebypermitting, the removal of the moving switch parts for adjustment andrepair while the switch con} tacts are alive. Further objects, featuresand advantageswill more clearly appear from the detail description givenbelow takenin connection with theaccompanying drawingswhich form apartof thisspeci fication. e i

Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section,of a switchembodying my improvements in a preferred form thereof. Fig. 2is a view taken at right angles to that shown in Fig. 1 of the mainswitch apparatusf. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 33of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken substantially on theline lt of Fig. 1. Fig. 5'is a transverse section taken on the-line 55of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a perspective of the lever cam member for closingthe switch I lyshown in 1.

shown in Fig. 1, and, Fig. 7 is a detail illustrating a modifiedarrangement for adjusting the brush switch contact means.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figs, 1 to 6inclusive, 8, 8 represent suitable high potential insulators adapted tocarry 2,000 volts or more and supporting base members 9 which aresuitably insulated from one and the ground ground by the insulators 8.Secured to the upper supporting member 9 is an electrical copper contact10 and'securcd to the lower supporting member 9 is another electricalcopper contact memberl-l. Suitable connections to the circuit are made"to the contact members 10 and 11 by means of terminal members12, 13, 14and 15 and nuts 16. Sc cured to the supporting member 9 by means ofbolts 17, which also secure the contact 11 to the base 9, is a lug orprojecting member 18 provided with a; vertical slot 19. (See also 5.)represents a, suitable frame provided at its lower end with a pivot 21screwed thereinto. The pivot 21 is adapted to be dropped into the slot19 so that the frame 20 is pivotally supported upon the lug 18. In orderto hold the pivot 21 in its bearing slot 19, we provide a screw 22adapted to be screwed laterally into the end of the lug 1'8 and havingits inner end 23 extend over or past the pivot 21 so as to keep it inthe s'lot'19. Pivotal'ly mounted to the frame 20 and centrally thereofis a cradle 24 (see also Fig.4) and operating in the cradle '24 is ascrew member 25, one end of which is provided with left hand threads andthe other end of which is provided with right *hand threads, one end ofwhich operates in the cradle 24 and the other in a member 26 to which issecuredby bolts 27, a "brush switch member 28 composed of a series ofspring copper sheets or laminations, the brush ends of which are adaptedto abut against and make electrical contact with the contact members 10and 11 as clear- At the center the brush means '28 are provided with acentral opening 29 through which a screw driver with an insulated handlemay be inserted in order to turn the screw member and so move the brushswitch member 28 toward and from the contacts 10 and 11 and with respectto the cradle 24 and frame 20 which carries the same. It will be notedthat the spring copper laminations composing the switch brush member 28are clamped between the members 26 and 30 by means of bolts 27 to form afairly rigid switch means which is adjusta'bly carriedby the cradle 24which is adapted to rock slightly so that both ends of the brush switchwill automatically adjust themselves to bear firmly against the cantactmembers 10 and 11 respectively when the switch is closed. Neverthelessthe frame has a positive connection with the cradle and brush switchthrough the screw 25 so that the frame will positively force and pressthe switch against the contacts without permitting any yielding movementof the switch as a whole'toward the frame due to the pressure of theswitch against the C ontact members.

In order to close the switch I provide at 1ts upper end a lug or member31 secured to the upper base support 9 by bolts 32 which also secure theupper contact 11 to the base member 9 (see also Fig. 33 represents alever cam member (see also Fig. 6) provided with pivot pins orextensions 34, one on either side which extend into and operate invertical slots 35 in the upper ends of the sides of the frame 20. Thelug 31 is recessed on its underneath side as shown by dotted lines 36 inFig. 1 and the member 33 is provided with a cylindrical portion 37extending between its ends which member 37 is arranged eccentric to thepivot extensions '34 and is adapted to engage the recess 36. The member3.7 preferably extends through the ends of the-member 33 and hasintegral "therewith the pivots 34, all of which is made rigid with. thebody part of member '33 by keys 38 so that all'parts shown in Fig. -'6are held rigidly together. A bolt 39 extends across the frame 20 at itsupper end as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the side members of the member33 are recessed at 40 to accommodate this bolt. The ends of the member33 are also recessed at 41 for a purpose to be more clearly hereinafterdescribed. With the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 1 it will beseen that the cc,- cent'ric 37 engaging within the recess 36 ipreventsthe frame 20 from being swung outwardly to the right as viewed in Fig. 1to open the switch. ll hen, however, it is desired to open the switch ahook with an insulated handle may be inserted within the hole 42 in theend of the member 33 and the lever member 33 swung counterclockwise asviewed in Fig. 1 so that the eccentric member 37 will be rotated in therecess 36 and the pivot members 34 be swung slightly outwardly therebycausing the upper end of the frame 20 to be moved outwardly in aclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 to a slight extent. The levermember 33 will be moved substantially to the position indicated indotted lines at the top of Fig. 1 whereupon it may be dropped or pulleddown vertically so that the recesses 41 will engage the bolt 39. By thusmoving the member 33 downward vertically the eccentric 37 is also pusheddown out of the recess 36 so that the eccentric 37 is moved free andclear of the lug 31, whereupon by means of the insulated handle havingmeans engaging aperture 42, the switch may be pulled open in the usualway. During such movement the member 33 will be held rigid with theframe 20 by I reason of the bolt 39 (which is rigid with secured-to themember 33 or provided wit a hook adapted to be inserted in the apermm42, is manually operated'to swing the brush switch member "with all itsparts about the pivot 21to the position where'the member 33 will be inthe position shownin the dotted line at the top ofFig. 1. Thereupon themember 33 is pushed upwardly with the insulatedhandle so that the bolt39 is removed from the recesses 41 and thenby means of the insulatedhandle engaging the aperture 42 the niember33 is swung about theprojections 34 as an axis, in a clockwise directionas viewed in Fig. 1,so that the eccentric 37 will engage within the recess36 and by reasonof the cam action of the eccentric 37 against the outer face of therecess 36'the member 20 will be forced toward the i switch contactslOand 11 thereby moving the brush 28v toward the switch contacts 10 and11, andnthe brush ends into electrical contactwith the contact faces ofthe contacts 10 and 11. By allowing the eccentric 37 to swing slightlypast the dead center the brush switch member is automatically heldfirmly up against the contacts 10 and 11 and-the switch automaticallylocked closedwiththe brushends bearing. against the contacts 10 andllunderpressure. Atthe upper end the side members of the frame 20 areprovided with projecting lugs 50 which-act as sirable to remove themoving elements of the switch forinspection or repair, this is veryeasily done by opening the switch in the manner above described and thenby means of a screw driver with an insulated handle removing the screw22 whereby the frame 20 with its pivot 21and1all connected parts may beeasily slipped out and removed to a safe distance from the switchcontacts 10 and 11. In this type of switch it will be further noted thatthe main current carrying. contacts are entirely separate from themechanical devices for hinging and. holding the switch member in closedposition.

Referring to Fig. =7 I'thereshow a modification in which theadjustmentiof the brush member is obtained in a somewhatdifferentmanner. InFig. 7 the cradle 24 is reversed and a a screw isthreaded therein which screw has at one end a reduced non-threadedportion .61 passing through the member 30, brush'28 and meme ber 26 witha nut 62 at fits outer end. A spring washer 63is inserted between a nut62 and the member 26, and a washer 64%. is shown between the screwthreaded portion GOandthe clamping member 30. A look nut 65 is providedonthe member 60 on the outside of thecradle 24. WVhen it is desired toadjust the brush 28 laterally with respect to the cradle 24, the nut 65is loosened and with a screw driver with an] insulated, handle,thescrew60 is turned thereby moving the brush-28 and members 26 and 30 laterallywith respect to the'cradle 24 and toward or away from the electricalcontacts 10 and 11. When adjusted to the desired position the. lock nut65 may be again screwed into place.-' l

:It will also be understoodthat many other changes and. modificationsmay be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the'inventionin it-sbroader aspects. Consequently we-desire to cover all forms comingwithin therterms of the appended claims and their equivalents.

What we claim and desire to Letters Patent is l l 1..111 an electricswitch the combination of two electrical contact members, a framepivotally mounted adjacent the'first con tact member'and' so as to swingwith respect to both contact members, a brush type switch mounted onsaid frame adapted to electrically connect said contact members when theframe is swung toclose the switch, means adjacent the secondcontactmember and means f on the frame adjacent the end thereofoppositeitspivot and cooperating with said last mentioned means to holdthe switch closed. i i 1 2. An electric switch of the class describedand adapted to be'opened and closed manually having in combination, twoelecsecure by trical contact members, brush type switch member adaptedto electrically connect said contact members, a pivot for said switchmember, a member provided witha slot into which said pivot is inserted'to pivotallymount the switch member with respect to said contactmembers, and means holding said "pivotin the slot but adapted to beoperated to permit the removal of the pivot from theslot to permitremoval of the switch member.

3. An electric switch having in combination two electrical contactmembers, a brush type switch member pivotally' mounted with respectthereto, means for closing said switch member to thereby electricallyconnect said contacts, a slotted member, said switch member having apivot normally 'operating in a slot in said slotted member and removablemeans retaining said pivot in said slot.

An electric switch of the class described and adapted to be opened andclosed manually by means of an insulated handle, having in combination,two electrical contact members, :a switch member comprising a frame anda copper brush switch means carried thereby and adapted to contact withsaid contact members, means whereby said frame is movable relatively tosaid contact members to close and open :the switch and means foradjusting said copper brush switch means toward and from the saidcontact members and with respect to the frame, said last mentioned meanscomprising a member interposed between said frame and brush switch andpivoted with respect to one and ;adjnstab le to and fro with respect :tothe other, and a screw with series of right and left handed threadsthereon, one series operating in the switch and the other in saidinterposed member.

An electric switch of the class described and adapted to be opened andclosed manually having in combination, two electrical contact members, aswitch member comprising a frame and a copper brush switch means carriedthereby and adapted to contact with said contact members, means wherebysaid frame is movable relatively to said contact members to close andopen the switch and means for adjusting said copper brush switch meanstOW'illICl and from the said contact members and with respect to theframe, pressure means mounted on and supported by said frame for causingthe brush ends to engage said contact members under pressure and holdingthem in contact with said contact members under pressure and meanswhereby said last mentioned means may be operated by a separateinsulated handle.

6. An electric switch for high potential currents and adapted to beopened and closed manually by means of an insulated handle, having incombination, two electrical contact members, high potential insula-tingmeans supporting said contact men-1- hers, :a frame pivoted with respectto said contact members and also supported by said insulating means, acradle carried by said frame and adapted to have :a rocking movementwith respect thereto, copper brush switch means carried by said cradleand adapted to make electrical contact with said contact members, meansfor adjusting said brush switch means toward and from said contactmembers and with respect to said frame, means including a lever and camalso supported through said insulating means and adapted to mechanicallymove said frame to press the brush contacts against the contact membersto close "the switch and hold it in closed position under pressure.

7.. An electric switch having in combination, two electrical contactmembers, a frame pivoted with respect thereto, a brush type switchcarried by the frame and adapted to electrically connect said contactmembers when the frame is moved to close the switch, screw threadedmeans for adjusting the switch on the frame in a direction toward andaway from the contact members when the switch is closed, and the switchbeing connected with the frame such that the frame will positively forceand press the switch against the contact members without permitting anyyielding movement of the switch as a whole toward the frame due :to thepressure of the switch against the contact members.

8. An electric switch for high potential currents and adapted to beopened and closed manually by means of an insulated handle, having incombination two electrical contact members, high potential insulatingmeans separately supporting said contact members, a frame movable withrespect to said contact members, a brush type switch carried by theframe and adapted to electrically connect said contact members when theframe is moved to close the switch, screw threaded means for adjustingthe switch on the frame in a direction toward and away from the contactmembers when the switch is closed,

and the switch being connected with the frame such that the frame willpositively force and press the switch against the contact memberswithout permitting any yielding movement of the switch as a whole towardthe frame due to the pressure of the switch against the contact members,and cam means for closing. the switch against said contactmembers underpressure.

An electric switch of the class described, having in combination twoelectrical contact members, a brush type switch member pivotally mountedwith respect to said contact members, means fixed with respect to thesaid contact members and means mounted upon said brush type switchmember and disengaged from said fixed means when the switch is open andadapted to engage said fixed means to cause the brush ends to be forcedagainst the two contact members and maintained thereagainst underpressure.

16 An electric switch of the class described, having in combination twoelectrical contact members, a brush type switch member pivotally mountedupon one of the said contact members, a projecting member mounted uponthe other of the two contact members and means mounted upon said brushswitch member adapted to mechanically engage the said projecting memberto cause the brush ends to be-forced against the two contact members andmaintained thereagainst under pressure. 1 a

11.An electric switch of thee-lass described, having in combination twoelectrical contact members, a brush type switch member pivotally mountedwith respect to the said contact members, a projecting member fixed withrespect to the said contact mem bers and means mounted upon the free endof the said brush switch member and carried thereby and adapted toengage said projecting member to cause the brush ends to be pressedagainst the two contact members and maintained thereagainst underpressure.

12. An electric switch of the class de scribed, having in combinationtwo electrical contact members, engaging means fixed with respect tosaid contact members, a brush type switch member pivotally mounted withrespect thereto, said switch member containing a slot and means mountedupon the brush switch member and movable with respect thereto andadapted to'operate in said slot and engage said engaging means to causethe brush ends to be forced against the contact members and maintainedthereagainst under pressure.

13. An electric switch of the class described, having in combination twoelectrical contact'members, a brush switch member pivotally mounted withrespect thereto, an eccentric with a lever attached thereto, pivotallymounted in a slotin the said switch member and adapted to be bothrotated and moved longitudinally in said slot, means fixed with respectto the said contact members and containing a slot open at one end, thesaid parts being positioned so that the said eccentric may be made toengage the slot in the said means and upon being rotated therein bymeans of the said lever, will cause the brush ends to be forced against1 the two contact members and there maintained under pressure.

14. An electric switch of the class described, having in combination twoindependent and separate insulating supports fixed relatively to eachother, two contact members mounted respectively upon said insulatingsupports, two projecting members mounted respectively upon the twocontact members, a brush switch member pivotally mounted upon one of thesaid projecting members and means mounted upon the said switch memberadapted to engage the other projecting member tocause the brush ends tobe drawn against thetwo contact members and there mamtamed underpressure.

15. An electric switch of the class described, having in combination twoelectrical toward and away from the contact members in a planesubstantially at right angles to the contact surfaces :of the contactmembers, a switch adjustably mounted upon; said frame, means foradjusting said switchrelatively to said frame, said switch being adaptedto'contact with said contact members, and

means carried by said frame at-the upper end thereof for causing saidbrush switch means to be drawn into, contact with said contact membersand there held under pres sure and adapted to be manipulated by means ofan insulated hook stick.

16. An electric switch of the class de: scribed, having in combinationtwo electrical contact members, a frame pivotally switch memberpivotally mounted with respect to said contact members and adapted to beswung about its pivot to electrically connect said contact members,means fixed with respect to the contact. members and a device pivotallymounted on the switch member and disengaged from said last mentionedmeans when the switch is open but adapted to engage said fixed means onclosing the switch and with a cam action cause the switch member to beforced against the contact members.

18. An electric switch having in combination, two electrical contactmembers, a switch member pivotally mounted with respect to said contactmembers and adapted to be swung about its pivot to electrically connectsaid contact members, means fixed with respect to the contact membersand a device pivotally mounted on the switch member and disengaged fromsaid last mentioned means when the switch is open but adapted to engagesaid fixed means on closing the switch and with a cam action cause theswitch member to be forced against the contact members, and meanswhereby said device may be prevented from having pivotal movement onsaid switch member.

19. An electric switch having in combination, two electrical contactmembers, a switch member pivotally mounted with respect to said contactmembers and adapted to be swung about its pivot to electrically connectsaid contact members, means fixed with respect to the contact membersand meanson the switch member adapted to cooperate with said first meansto hold the switch closed, one of said means including Niagara and Stateof New York, this 15th a pivotally mounted member adapted to enday ofJuly, 1 9 19.

gage the other means with a cam action to JOSEPH ALLEN JOHNSON. forcethe switch closed; the carrying of the HARRY M KING.

- cam past dead center acting to lock the \Vitnesses:

switch in closed position. CLARA B. SMITH,

Signed at Niagara Falls, in the county of MARGARET M. HoGAN.

